Mmolotsi's investigation seems to have flared tempers as his faction's supporters read victimisation in the whole exercise. This will seemingly not help the factional wars, as they are likely to demand answers from Khama.

Employment of some fulltime party employees in the region has sparked another war with claims that the Merafhe-Nkate team has been favoured because a majority of the staff are from the Francistown East constituency.

Khama's visit follows a recent letter unilaterally authored by the Francistown regional chairman, Botho Ntirang who had warned Khama that: "You do not enjoy support of the regional party structures in the Francistown region".

The in-house meeting will be held at the Phase IV Community Hall in Block-One Location. Sparks are expected to fly as the two factions in the party vie for supremacy before Khama.

Khama will be facing a hostile crowd, which recently snubbed Vice President Mompati Merafhe at the recent launch of Tati East MP, Guma Moyo in Matshelagabedi. Ntirang is quoted by a local weekly last week saying that: "It is good for you to address members to get a glimpse of whether members support you or not.

I hope you will address the members and councillors before the congress for them to give you support". Ntirang is a known member of Nkate-Merafhe faction. He told Mmegi that the Francistown region and its neighbours are ready for the presidential address.

"Khama is on his visits to check the area and talk to BDP members. I will not really go into his agenda, as that is not my area. May be party secretary general, Jacob Nkate and executive secretary, Dr Comma Serema will know better."

Ntirang was reluctant to confirm or deny whether Khama has come in response to his letter. Khama's decision to quickly answer a factional call has raised eyebrows in the region with some party members stating that he should be jeered so that that he can get a glimpse of the situation on the ground and to know that he is biased.

"We are not kids and the party leadership should not expect to force anyone down our throats. We cannot be used like tools," warned a youthful party diehard who preferred anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Khama's visit will not be the first of its kind by the party top leadership. Previous attempts even by Khama to bring peace in the party ranks in Francistown have proved futile. The recent launches of party candidates in the region were apparently dominated by the Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe faction and this has left the Nkate-Merafhe group in a panic.

The Nkate-Merafhe faction's fortunes have been dwindling in the Francistown and other regions.

They see Khama's trip today as a last-ditch move to stem the tide against the Kedikilwe-Kwelagobe faction. Party diehards already doubt if the last minute attempt by the President to try and swing the votes in favour of the Nkate-Merafhe faction that he supports, will really bear fruit.